HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING: Steinert boys rout Hamilton

HAMILTON — People always talk about the Hamilton-Steinert rivalry in terms of intensity and friends vs. friends and all that stuff.

But Gary Liedtka-Bizuga, who helped the Spartan boys swim team to a 115-55 win over the Hornets in the Lea E. Terry Natatorium on Thursday, had a refreshing new take on the match-up.

“It’s always a fun meet and they always give us good competition,” the senior said. “And it’s good for us to swim nearby rather than have a 40-minute drive.”

So here you have it. Intensity aside, that short bus ride is a bonus.

It certainly worked in Steinert’s favor on Thursday, when it survived two wins apiece by Hamilton sophomores Griffin Hutton and Jake Torres to win the other seven events and sweep three.

Liedtka-Bizuga had three wins in the 50 free and two relays, and also took a second as he continues to emerge with a solid senior season.

“We have always used him in the breaststroke and the 200,” coach Jen Smith said. “This year we’re mixing him up in those two events and the 100 free, and today he won the 50 free. He’s just kind of turned on.”

Steinert (4-5) appears to be turning on at just the right time, with two meets remaining before the Mercer County meet.

A week ago, Tyler Gulsby broke the school’s 28-year-old backstroke record and had three firsts and a second against Hamilton.

Zach Mabin has made the state meet his personal smorgasbord, as he has qualified in three events and has his pick of swimming the breaststroke, the 400/500 freestyle and the individual medley. Mabin was a four-time winner in two relays, the 100 free and breast.

Steinert swept all three relays, with Tommy Wright and Jacob Kosowski each in two of them.

“We’re definitely peaking,” Smith said. “This is a good time of the season.”

“We’re just clicking more,” Gulsby said. “In the relays you get better starts. You know how other people swim, so you know how much harder you need to push them, who you need to cheer for. You just have better flow.”

Hamilton’s tandem of Hutton and Torres are flowing pretty well during their sophomore seasons. Griffin won the 200 IM and 100 fly and Jake won the 200 and 400 free.

But coach Dan Seeth was happy with his entire team (3-6), which has won as many meets this year as the last two seasons combined.

“We got good efforts from everybody,” the former Steinert swimmer said. “I had a little post-meet talk with the guys and with all our times we made a lot of improvements and had a lot of personal bests.”

Unfortunately for the Hornets, Steinert’s talent is building to a crescendo.

And, of course, a short bus ride never hurts.

— Follow Rich Fisher On Twitter At Fish4scores And On Fish4scores.Com.